This editorial honors the tradition established in the Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management (JIEM) since its inception, of presenting some relevant information about the evolution of JIEM during 2009, and about the future directions of the journal. We focus on issues concerning the quality of the journal (editorial board and reviewing process), prestige (progress on indexation), social responsibility and financial viability. We also provide information about the future evolution of JIEM, advancing the contents of the special issues planned for 2010 and 2011.